Editorial Policy

Our product reviews are only as good as the work we put behind them. This page shows you exactly what that work looks like for us.

Source of our product reviews#

Our reviews come from three sources, in order of prioritization:

1. Hands-on Use: We sign up the way you would, use the product for the job it's built for, and base our verdict on our experience. Product specifications, marketing pages, and demos tell and show you what a product promises. We test the products to tell you what it actually does.
2. SME Expert Interview: In situations where we’re unable to directly test the product ourselves, we collaborate with a Subject Matter Expert (SME) who uses the product for work. The SME tells us how they use the product and their experience. We validate it through our own extensive product research.
3. Product Research: In situations where we can’t directly test the product or collaborate with an SME, we reach out to the company for more insights beyond what’s in their marketing materials. We validate the company’s POV with our own product research.

For each review, we disclose the sources of our information and cite any supporting research sources.

How we choose products to review#

• Reader demand: We cover products people are actively trying to choose between. If you have a product(s) you’d like us to cover, do reach out.
• Real options: We cover products a reader would genuinely consider, including free and lesser-known alternatives.
• Products we find useful: We cover products we use ourselves that are super helpful. Found a product useful? Contact us.
• Problem-first Reviews: We identify problems that B2B, SaaS, and tech teams face, and we investigate and cover products that solve the problems.
• Availability. The product has to be something you can buy or sign up for today.

How we test#

• Real accounts: We sign up like any customer, and we pay for a plan when the features we're reviewing need it.
• Real work: We use the product for the tasks it's meant for, long enough to get past first impressions. That's usually days or weeks, depending on the product.
• A testing log: We record the plan or version, how long the setup took, what broke, screenshots of what we saw, and other details relevant to our review.
• Same tasks, same yardstick: In comparisons, every product goes through the same tasks, so the results are comparable.

What every review tells you#

• Which plan or version we used, and when.
• Who the product is for, and who should skip it.
• What it really costs, with the date we checked the price.
• The trade-offs: what you give up by choosing it.
• What to use instead if it isn't right for you.

How we reach a verdict#

Our verdicts are conditional and specific: choose this if you're in this situation; skip it if you're in that one. As product users ourselves, we understand that no product solves all problems, and there are different trade-offs for different audiences. Our reviewer's name is on every verdict, so you know who made the call.

Research and sources#

Our (or our SME’s) testing is the main evidence in most cases. We back it up with the seller's pricing pages, documentation, changelogs, demo pages, and credible independent research, which we name and link. Customer reviews across top review platforms also help us spot patterns, like a recurring bug, what users like or dislike about a product.

How we use AI#

Our reviews are written by the people who tested the products. We may use AI tools to help with research, proofreading, or formatting, but not to invent experiences, results, quotes, or opinions.

Affiliate links and independence#

Some links on Product to Know are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never change our verdicts, rankings, or what we say about a product's flaws. If a free tool is the better choice, we'll tell you. Our Affiliate Disclosure has the details.

Keeping reviews current#

Products change constantly: prices go up, features move between plans, and a buggy app gets fixed. We re-check our reviews and show the date of the latest update. When a verdict changes, we say what changed and why.

Spot any changes we haven’t updated yet? Reach out to us to report,